U.S. households use furnaces to stay warm more than any other heating technology. Furnaces are effective, but they can also use considerable fuel and electricity. Let’s explore some tips you can apply to avoid a budget-busting heating bill this winter.
Set Up a Home Energy Audit
You can spend as much as 30% more on energy annually through a loose building envelope (one that allows for more outside airflow). So, it’s wise to schedule an energy assessment every several years. Your auditor will determine where you’re wasting energy and help you prioritize those issues. You’ll then have a plan to use your home improvement budget wisely. Like many homeowners, you may not be able to correct all problems at once. Still, you can take preventive measures, such as using door socks and plastic on windows for drafts.
Schedule Professional Furnace Maintenance
Much of the maintenance a furnace requires is not something a homeowner can do. That’s why it’s best to schedule a furnace tune-up in the fall before the cold weather arrives. Even in winter, it’s never too late for energy-saving furnace maintenance.
During this professional heating maintenance appointment, your technician will perform a multipoint inspection and clean all the equipment. That’s important when it comes to combustion components. Your technician will tighten electrical connections, fans, and pulleys. They will also check the ventilation, calibrate the thermostat, and lubricate all moving parts.
Book a Duct Inspection to Correct Leakage
All ductwork has some air leakage. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates it can be as high as 40% in older homes. To avoid this, schedule a duct camera inspection at least every other year. A duct inspection isn’t a standard task during a tune-up, but you can schedule those services at the same time. If your technician finds significant air leakage, there are solutions. They include duct sealing, duct repairs, and even full duct replacement.
Choose the Right Furnace Filter
A good filter will protect your furnace, maintain optimal efficiency, and improve air quality. Ideally, choose a premium pleated filter, and buy extras so you always have a spare on hand.
The industry rates filter effectiveness using the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). Choose a filter with a MERV rating up to what your furnace supports but not beyond it. Too high a MERV will restrict airflow and cause your furnace to run inefficiently.
Check the Furnace Filter Often and Swap It as Needed
Check your filter at least once a month and replace it before it clogs. When you can see dust building up on the surface, that indicates the filter is saturated.
Benefit From a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
The DOE recommends an advanced thermostat that supports scheduling for all homes. The reason is that the average household can lower their annual cooling costs by up to 10% through scheduling. To do this, set your thermostat back by 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day. The best times to do this are while you’re sleeping or at work. If you can do that for more than eight hours, your savings will be even higher.
Smart thermostats are programmable with Wi-Fi capabilities for remote access and control. Many have additional features that can help you improve efficiency. That includes adaptive learning and energy monitoring with insights.
Monitor Fuel Consumption and How the Furnace Cycles
Rising energy consumption is often the first sign of a furnace problem. If you have a thermostat with energy monitoring, it can alert you to usage spikes within hours. Otherwise, monitor usage through your bill or online through your provider’s website. Many providers have opt-in programs through which they can send you alerts about spikes in energy use.
Irregular cycling is another common sign that your furnace is running inefficiently. Cycles vary, but a typical one is two to three times an hour. If you notice your furnace turning on and off more frequently, shut it off immediately, and call for assistance. Avoid turning it on again until a technician gets there to have a look.
Regularly Tidy Up Around the Furnace
During the heating season, check your furnace at least once a week. Make sure there are no fabrics, old newspapers, or other materials that could ignite. Also, good airflow is essential to furnace efficiency. Clear the area around the furnace of all clutter. Look in the combustion area as well. If you find dust, cobwebs, or other debris, clear it out.
Inspect the Pilot Light
Your pilot light may go out from time to time. It shouldn’t be a frequent occurrence, and the pilot light should be relatively easy to relight. Otherwise, there’s a problem, such as dirt buildup on the pilot light or an incorrect gas-air mixture. During your weekly inspection, check the pilot light color. It should always be blue with a tiny bit of yellow at the top. If it’s any other color, the system is burning a foreign substance.
Keep Vents Open and Clean
Clean the vents in your living spaces at least once a month to maximize airflow and improve air quality. If you notice excessive dust buildup, you may need duct cleaning. Also, keep all your vents open. Closing vents in unused rooms doesn’t save you money. Instead, it disrupts the static air pressure in the system and causes it to run less efficiently.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans aren’t just for the summer. You can run them in winter as well to distribute your heating more evenly and improve indoor air quality. Fans make a home more comfortable and can let you lower your normal temperature setting by as much as 3 degrees.
Just be sure to set them appropriately to avoid wind chill that can make you less comfortable. Set ceiling fans on normal height ceilings to the winter setting: the lowest fan speed and a clockwise fan rotation. Note that you can leave ceiling fans on vaulted ceilings on the summer setting all year long. That’s the highest fan speed and a counterclockwise fan rotation.
Run a Humidifier
Relative humidity affects how you perceive temperature. When it is between 30% and 50%, you’ll feel warmer and be able to set the temperature lower. Portable humidifiers are the cheaper option initially. They are effective but require frequent cleaning. Whole-house humidifiers are better long-term values and require only annual service.
Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up Today
Childers Air Plumbing & Electric has provided seasonal HVAC tune-ups in Beckley, WV and the surrounding areas since 1951. We’re a full heating services team and can handle both gas and electric furnaces. We also install and service boilers, heat pumps, hybrid heating, central air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits, and our team repairs and replaces ductwork. Count on us as well for programmable and smart thermostats, air purifiers, UV lamps, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers. We even perform home energy audits. Our electricians install and service electrical panels, surge protection, and generators. Our plumbers pipe and repipe water, sewer, and gas lines. They’re skilled with leak detection, trenchless sewer repairs, water heaters, water filters, water softeners, and much more.
Contact us today at Childers Air Plumbing & Electric to learn more about these services and schedule an appointment.
